This article is part of an ongoing series where I delve into newly discovered words and phrases from my literary adventures, aiming to amuse and enlighten readers while highlighting my own learning journey.

My spouse and I often enjoy watching the quiz show "University Challenge." Personally, I engage more out of hope than expectation, unless the topics include popular music or British birds.

My best chance to answer correctly comes when we watch recorded episodes, as I may have seen previews beforehand. However, if I manage to answer more than a couple of questions correctly, my wife becomes suspicious. Recently, I encountered the following two words on the show:

Samizdat — I was familiar with this term, although I wasn't clear on its definition. It refers to the secret reproduction and distribution of literature that is banned by authorities, particularly in the communist nations of Eastern Europe. This form of dissent involved individuals creating and sharing censored literature, often by hand, circulating it from one reader to another.

Ivy League — I had heard of this term related to a group of elite universities in the United States but was unsure of its origins and which institutions were included. Initially, Ivy League referred to a sports conference formed by a select group of prestigious colleges in the Northeastern U.S. Today, it encompasses both the athletic and academic prestige of these eight universities: Brown, Harvard, Cornell, Princeton, Dartmouth, Yale, Columbia, and the University of Pennsylvania. Gaining admission to one of these esteemed schools is often seen as a significant achievement, akin to attending Oxford or Cambridge in the UK.

"A Modest Proposal" — This title refers to a book by Jonathan Swift that I had not previously encountered. It was mentioned in a review of the controversial "Human Meat" television show aired on Channel 4. The program was described as a modern take on Swift's earlier satirical work, which depicted impoverished Irish families selling their children to the wealthy for consumption.

A review of this rather disturbing program can be found below:

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<h2>A Modest Proposal - Wikipedia</h2>

<div><h3>A Modest Proposal For preventing the Children of Poor People From being a Burthen to Their Parents or Country, and For…</h3></div>

<div><p>en.wikipedia.org</p></div>

</div>

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<h2>'The anger of it will linger for years' - is The British Miracle Meat the most disturbing TV satire…</h2>

<div><h3>This flawlessly executed programme is one of the most audaciously satirical spoofs ever aired in the UK. It's a…</h3></div>

<div><p>www.theguardian.com</p></div>

</div>

In a review of "The War Came to Us" by Christopher Miller, I encountered the term condottiere, which refers to a leader of mercenary troops originating from Italy during the Middle Ages. These commanders, known as condottieri, played significant roles in serving various European monarchs throughout the Italian Wars and the Wars of Religion. Notable figures in this category include Prospero Colonna and Cesare Borgia.

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<h2>The War Came to Us by Christopher Miller review - on the ground in Ukraine</h2>

<div><h3>A seasoned correspondent looks back at life in the run-up to invasion</h3></div>

<div><p>www.theguardian.com</p></div>

</div>

From the same informative book, I discovered two more words:

Credenza — This term describes a sideboard typically found in dining rooms, characterized by a central cupboard flanked by glass display cabinets, often crafted from polished wood and embellished with marquetry.

Stentorian — An adjective that describes a voice that is loud and powerful.

The acronym YRMIRY stands for "you read me; I read you," introduced by Medium author RC Hammond as a new approach to achieving success on Medium following changes in earnings rules. Its popularity remains to be seen, similar to the "F2F" (follow for follow) trend.

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<h2>YRMIRY! Here, Let Me Help, You Read Me, I Read You</h2>

<div><h3>It seems like a much better plan than F2F, right?</h3></div>

<div><p>medium.com</p></div>

</div>

Dysania — This term describes a condition where individuals struggle to get out of bed, resonating with those who experience it, as referenced in an article from HuffPost UK Life.

Another interesting phrase encountered was "tenderised by the blunt force of the movie’s marketing campaign," used by Eva Wiseman in "The Observer" to describe the impact of the new "Barbie" film.

Words like terpines and phytoncides were also featured on educational signs at Westonbirt Arboretum, highlighting chemicals released by trees that promote positive moods, contributing to the trend of "forest bathing."

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<h2>What You Should Know About Phytoncides and Terpenes - An Darach Forest Therapy</h2>

<div><h3>Phytoncides and terpenes are antimicrobial and insecticidal compounds that are emitted by the plants and trees and…</h3></div>

<div><p>silvotherapy.co.uk</p></div>

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The term sonnenrad refers to a disc that resembles a sunwheel. The Anti-Defamation League identifies this as an ancient European symbol that the Nazis appropriated in their quest to create an idealized "Aryan/Norse" heritage. The term recently appeared in an article about a DeSantis aide who resigned after sharing a video featuring this symbol.

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<h2>DeSantis aide fired after sharing video featuring symbol used by Nazis</h2>

<div><h3>Nate Hochman 'no longer with the campaign' after posting video using internet memes popular on the far right</h3></div>

<div><p>www.theguardian.com</p></div>

</div>

Chronophage — This term describes something that consumes time. For instance, one might refer to a game of Wordle or Sudoku as a chronophage. It appeared in a Medium article by Afiani Rui, showcasing the educational value of time spent on the platform.

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<h2>The Chronophage That Engulf Us</h2>

<div><h3>Chronophage: time eater — time is finite.</h3></div>

<div><p>medium.com</p></div>

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The next three terms are extracted from the comprehensive book "Vietnam — An Epic History of a Tragic War" by Max Hastings, which I am still reading:

Stentorian — Again, this word refers to a loud and powerful voice.

Wiseacre — A noun describing a person who pretends to have knowledge or wisdom, often viewed with scorn by others.

"Trying to grab smoke" — A vivid phrase illustrating the challenge of engaging with an elusive enemy in the jungles of Vietnam.

The term Blondie surfaced in a vlog about Dorset, referring to a type of dessert bar that resembles a brownie but uses vanilla instead of cocoa and includes brown sugar. It sounds delicious but perhaps not the healthiest choice.

Suppurate — This means to produce pus; fester. It was used in a rather harsh restaurant review by Jay Raynor in "The Observer," a writer known for his sharp wit and critique.

Fascinator — A type of formal headpiece that has gained popularity since the 1990s as an alternative to hats, typically featuring a large decorative design attached to a band or clip.

Lastly, from casual conversations, I learned about the term mic drop, which refers to the act of dropping a microphone to signify triumph at the end of a performance or speech. It symbolizes a boastful assertion of success.

A notable mic drop moment can be seen in this video featuring former President Barak Obama, who embodies style and charisma.

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<h2>'Obama out': a brief history of mic drops</h2>

<div><h3>The US president ended his speech at the White House correspondents' dinner in epic style. He has perfected the…</h3></div>

<div><p>www.theguardian.com</p></div>

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And with that, I conclude this exploration of words!

I hope you found this collection enjoyable. Please feel free to share your favorite new words in the comments.

Thank you for reading!

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